Question

1. Explain or show how you could find 5/ 1/3
by using the value of 5x3
Find 12/ 3/5

Answer 1

20

Explanation:

You could find 5/⅓

by using 5 × 3

Knowing that:

i. Any number multiplied by 1, gives the number itself.

ii. Dividing any number by itself gives 1.

You would agree with me that

i. (5×3)/(5×3) = 1

ii. Writing 5/⅓ as 5/⅓ × 1 doesn't change the value.

Then I can write 5/⅓ as

5/⅓ × (5×3)/(5×3) = 1

This can become

[5×(5×3)] / [(⅓) × (5×3)]

= 75/(15/3)

= 75/5

= 15

In a similar way,

12/ 3/5

= [12/ (3/5)] × [(5×3)/(5×3)]

= 12×(5×3) / (3/5)×(5×3)

= (12×5×3) / [(3×5×3)/5]

= 180 / (45/5)

= 180 / 9

= 20